Sceva’s Garden Home didn’t begin as a business.
It began as a family’s dream to live close to nature, grow on their own land, and welcome people with genuine Kerala hospitality. What you see today is the result of decades of care, courage, and quiet work in the hills.
The story begins with T.P. Varkey of the Thekkeunnel family and his wife Thresiyakkutty.
Many years ago, when people first started moving into the Idukki hills in search of fertile land, they arrived here — a wild, remote, mist-covered region with very little infrastructure.
The family first lived in Rajakkadu, raising five children, the youngest being Benny. In 1990, they moved again to a peaceful hillside village near Munnar called “200 Acre”. Back then, there were only a few roads, basic facilities, and lots of opportunity for those willing to work hard.
Through perseverance, Varkey and Thresiyakkutty developed the land, made the area accessible, and grew cocoa, spices and crops that gave the family stability.
When they passed on, they left behind a beautiful hillside estate, rich with memories and potential.
While most siblings moved away, Benny and his wife Sheeja chose to stay — to continue the story on this land.
During the Covid pandemic, we turned to the land itself for inspiration. Using mahogany trees planted by Sheeja, we built our wooden rooms by hand. Each room is designed to blend naturally with the garden, offering guests a warm and authentic Kerala experience.
The original house was eventually taken down, and in 2012, Benny and Sheeja began building a new home — the one that would later become Sceva’s Garden Home.
Benny already had deep roots in hospitality.
In 2005, he founded Musafir Tours, designing personalised Kerala and Tamil Nadu journeys. Working closely with travellers taught him what truly makes a stay memorable — comfort, honesty, planning support and personal warmth. These values still define the way he hosts today.
Meanwhile, the property started evolving into a thriving 1.5+ acre garden estate, with:
From the balcony, the mountains across the valley formed the silhouettes of a man and woman lying peacefully.
The family affectionately began calling them “The Sleeping Giants” — a view guests still find magical when they finally notice it.
For years, the new house was simply the family home where Benny, Sheeja, and their children — Ben and little Sceva — lived and welcomed friends with warmth.
Travellers from Musafir Tours would occasionally visit for tea or a home-cooked meal. Every time, they’d say:
“You should share this place with others.”
They loved the garden, the views, the peace, and the way the family hosted.
Slowly, the idea of a homestay took shape — not a commercial hotel, but an extension of the family home.
The first guest rooms were the King Rooms with Balcony on the first floor: bright, spacious rooms overlooking the hills, garden and pool. Guests immediately appreciated being close enough to Munnar for day trips, yet far from the noise.
They woke to birdsong, mist and mountain air — and slept in a quiet home rather than a crowded resort lane.
Then came an unexpected turning point: the Covid pandemic.
Travel paused. But instead of waiting, Benny saw an opportunity to create something meaningful with his own hands.
On the land stood several mahogany trees planted by Sheeja soon after their marriage. After careful reflection, the family decided to use a few of them to craft something special for guests.
With help from his carpenter brother — and months of patient hard work — Benny built three Romantic Wooden Rooms on the terrace level.
These rooms:
Guests often tell us:
“It feels like living in a dream.”
“There’s no way heaven can be better.”
Not because of luxury — but because of the emotion of staying in a space born from the land itself.
Below, on the first floor, the King Rooms with Balcony continue to offer more contemporary comfort with bathtubs, wide balconies and airy interiors.
Together, the two levels give guests a choice between wooden cosiness and modern spaciousness.
Sceva’s Garden Home is now a quiet, family-run homestay in the hills of “200 Acre”, just 4 km from Adimaly and about 30 km before Munnar town.
Staying here means:
There is no TV, no loud music, and no nightlife here — and many guests say that is exactly why they love it.
Evenings are about conversation, stargazing, reading, listening to nature, or simply being at peace.
Benny helps with drivers and routes.
Sheeja cares for the home and food.
Ben and Sceva add weekend joy and youthful warmth.
Together, they hold onto a simple promise:
“Come as guests. Leave as family.”
The dream for Sceva’s Garden Home is not to become bigger — but more beautiful.
In the coming years, Benny hopes to add:
Guests themselves often point to the hill and say:
“Imagine a treehouse here…”
That shared dream is slowly becoming a plan.
What will never change is the heart of the place:
Until then, the family continues tending to the garden, caring for the land, and welcoming travellers who aren’t just looking for a room — but a home in the hills of Kerala.
